Dwayne Johnson recently opened up about the powerful and personal experiences that fueled his portrayal of troubled fighter Mark Kerr in the film “The Smashing Machine.” Discussing the intense hospital scene that explores Dwayne Johnson personal struggles, the actor revealed how real-life memories profoundly shaped his emotional performance on set.
Personal History Shapes a Challenging Performance
During filming for the Mark Kerr biopic, Johnson stepped into a deeply emotional role, depicting the aftermath of a life-threatening overdose and the critical moment when his character is visited in the hospital by friend Mark Coleman, played by Ryan Bader. Although Johnson’s character had shown some vulnerability earlier in the film, this particular hospital scene is described as the point where he breaks down openly, revealing vulnerabilities to someone else for the first time. The raw portrayal was rooted in Johnson’s own past, as he shared on The Awardist podcast hosted by Gerrad Hall.
Johnson looked to his own experiences with family addiction for inspiration. Recalling his father’s struggle, Johnson said,
My dad had an addiction, and I have lived that life where my dad was a fast talker, and he could fast talk his way in and outta things,
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler. He further described,
And I like to say that, you know, he quit his addiction in the morning, and by the evening time he quit quitting. You know, that’s what addicts do is oftentimes they’ll try to lure you in, and the moment they see a little opening that, ‘Oh, you’re believing my story,’ that’s it. Hooks are in, and I just wanna get onto the next.
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler. Drawing these authentic memories into his performance, Johnson crafted a scene where emotional honesty takes center stage.
Confronting Vulnerability on Set and in Life
Johnson explained how crucial it was for the scene to demonstrate authentic emotion, describing a moment in which Mark Kerr, in the hospital, displays the kind of deflection and bravado familiar to anyone who’s seen a loved one struggle with addiction.
I have lived that, where you hear, and you see Mark in the hospital [going], ‘Can you believe these guys? It was so unfair. They’re asking me who the president was. And I was just coming through and I was unconscious.’
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler. By tapping into memories of his own experiences, Johnson was able to authentically render the tension and denial present in moments of crisis.
Drawing Strength from Family Hardships
Johnson’s portrayal was also influenced by another deeply painful memory—witnessing his mother’s battle with cancer. He described the difficult conversations that arise when a relative faces a critical diagnosis:
The second half to that, is more — it hurts my heart — is that when my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer, she was diagnosed with stage 3B lung cancer. And when you know those stages, that’s not good. You know you gotta have those conversations with your family,
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler. Despite the eventual happy outcome—his mother’s recovery—Johnson remembered the tremendous emotional weight of that period.
He shared a vivid recollection of the first day of his mother’s treatment:
She was laying on the hospital bed, and I was kind of standing over her, holding her hand. And then the doctor came in and the doctor, he didn’t say, ‘Hey, you’re gonna be all right.’ He said, ‘We’re gonna take good care of you.’
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler. The moment intensified as he watched his mother’s vulnerable response:
And I’ll never forget it. She pulled the sheets up over her face, and she started, like, really crying. And I had never seen my mom cry like that. In the moment, I looked down and I saw this, like, little girl, you know?
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler.
Channeling Real Emotions for the Screen
According to Johnson, these formative family moments helped him fully embody not just Mark Kerr’s physical pain, but his internal struggle and reluctance to reveal weakness. The actor explained that his character’s hospital stay mirrored how his mother must have felt during her own:
I felt like that’s probably the last place that Mark Kerr wants to be as well,
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler. He continued,
Just like it was the last place my mom wanted to be in that moment of vulnerability, and you’re looking up at people and you just wanna cover your face. So yeah, that’s where I went.
Dwayne Johnson, actor and wrestler.
This candidness, rooted in Dwayne Johnson personal struggles and witnessed vulnerabilities, provided a well of honesty that enhanced both the realism and impact of his performance. The ability to channel these feelings not only deepened the portrayal of Mark Kerr but also echoed the emotional weight that many face when grappling with issues of addiction and life-threatening illness.
A Lasting Impact Beyond the Screen
Dwayne Johnson’s willingness to draw from his hardest moments and bring them into his craft highlights the importance of authenticity in storytelling about real people and personal challenges. The actor’s open discussion of moments involving his father’s addiction and his mother’s illness resonates with many viewers who have faced similar trials. By sharing these experiences, Johnson connects with audiences and brings attention to the realities and stigma of addiction, vulnerability, and recovery, shining a light on the emotional stories behind the headlines.
